Shelter and Settlement Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organization established to assist people forced to flee their homes due to conflict and disaster. With a workforce of approximately 15,000 employees, NRC operates in 40 countries worldwide, providing life-saving and long-term assistance to millions of individuals each year. The organization is committed to defending the rights of refugees and internally displaced persons, ensuring that they receive the support and resources necessary to rebuild their lives. NRC's mission is to promote human dignity and provide aid in some of the world's most challenging environments, emphasizing the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in its operations.

Job Overview:
The Shelter and Settlement Specialist position is a senior-level role responsible for overseeing the technical development, strategic direction, and quality assurance of NRC Palestine's Shelter and Settlement activities. This role involves monitoring program implementation, mentoring staff, and ensuring adherence to NRC's standards and guidelines. The Specialist will play a crucial role in strategic planning and coordination of Shelter interventions, either within the Shelter Core Competency (CC) or through integrated approaches across other CCs. The position requires a strong strategic thinker who can translate concepts into actionable plans while being accountable for all components of the program. The Specialist will also be expected to manage a diverse workload effectively, working across cultures and with various stakeholders in sensitive environments.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The key responsibilities of the Shelter and Settlement Specialist include developing the Shelter and Settlement Core Competency strategy, creating technical standard operating procedures (SoPs) and macro logframes to address humanitarian and recovery needs. The Specialist will ensure technical quality and provide direction and support for project implementation. They will contribute to identifying funding opportunities, including drafting funding proposals, project budgets, and donor reports. The Specialist will also assess trends in conditions and donor priorities to enhance assistance methods. Coordination with all CCs and cross-thematic areas is essential to maximize integrated programming and promote early recovery. The Specialist will ensure that safe programming principles are embedded in all Shelter and Settlement activities and will follow up on compliance with contractual commitments. They will develop systems and tools for continuous quality improvement and learning, document lessons learned, and represent NRC in relevant forums and clusters. Additionally, the Specialist will provide recruitment support, systematic training, and capacity building for technical staff while promoting the rights of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and returnees in line with NRC's advocacy strategy.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a bachelor's degree in a relevant field of study and have at least five years of experience in a development and/or humanitarian Shelter and Settlements programming environment. This includes a minimum of three years in a senior-level project management position. Knowledge in protection mainstreaming, community outreach and engagement, community capacity building, and disaster risk reduction (DRR) approaches is essential. Candidates should also have experience in needs assessment, project monitoring and evaluation, and technical program supervision. Familiarity with complex and volatile contexts, particularly in Palestine, is crucial, and proficiency in Arabic is considered an advantage. Fluency in English, both written and verbal, is mandatory, along with computer literacy in Microsoft Office, particularly strong skills in Word, Excel, and Outlook.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a bachelor's degree in a relevant field. This could encompass areas such as international development, humanitarian studies, social sciences, or related disciplines that provide a solid foundation for understanding the complexities of shelter and settlement programming in humanitarian contexts.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of five years of experience in a development and/or humanitarian Shelter and Settlements programming environment. This experience should include at least three years in a senior-level project management role, demonstrating a proven track record of managing complex projects and leading teams effectively in challenging environments.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for this position, both in written and verbal communication. Knowledge of Arabic is considered an advantage, as it enhances the ability to engage with local communities and stakeholders effectively. Proficiency in additional languages may also be beneficial, depending on the context of the work.

Additional Notes:
The duty station for this position is Jerusalem, Palestine, with the possibility of relocation to Amman, Jordan. The contract duration is for 12 months, with the potential for extension based on performance and organizational needs. The role may require approximately 30% travel to NRC areas of operations. The salary and benefits are classified as Grade 9 on NRC's grading structure. NRC is committed to being an equal opportunities employer, promoting diversity without distinction to age, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, and physical ability. The organization encourages innovative thinking and provides employees at all levels with opportunities to share ideas and take responsibility.